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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
John H. Pendergrass, David B. Harris, Donald J. Dudziak
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 13 | Number 2 | February 1988 | Pages 375-395
Technical Paper | Heavy-Ion Fusion | doi.org/10.13182/FST88-A25112
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A new model for the cost of production of heavy-ion fusion targets in dedicated on-site target factories is presented for power plants. The model treats single- and double-shell direct-drive and generic indirect-drive targets. Target factory capital costs, nontritium target materials costs, and target factory operations and maintenance costs are estimated for target substructures such as fuel capsules, radiation cases, and driver energy absorption regions. These individual estimates are combined to obtain the total target cost. Realistic scaling of target costs with variations of such important performance parameters as target factory production capacity and driver pulse energy is emphasized. The model can be modified and used for other inertial fusion drivers and fuels. Typical target cost estimates fall into the range of $0.25 to 0.45 per target. The estimated target cost contribution to the total cost of production of electric power is typically ∼4 to 7 mill/kW·h.